What can you say about the congressional investigations on the mutiny by the Magalo group?

so bias...siyempre they don't want to be buking noh...kasi they should be protecting their reputation diba? ginawa lang nila 'yon para kunwari nag-iinvestigate sila and pampabango sa upcoming election pero when you see the news it's quite obvious na they are protecting something.

my friend lovella says pa na the government sucks!(sorry for the word). kaya hindi nag-iimprove ang economy natin kasi leaders natin mga CORRUPT!

dapat nga we supported the magdalo group and be one with what they want. sos kung malapit lang ang manila di... tutulong talaga kami..kaso wala kaming pamasahe..

For the sake of our country....

SOMEBODY PLEASE STOP THESE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS!

It's nothing but an exercise in grandstanding and is definitely not done in the "aid of legislation." It's obviously done "in aid of reelection." Barf. Biazon, Loi Estrada, Oreta, that Dingalensumthing guy in congress, ugh, they all belong to the circus. Nothing but a bunch of clowns hoping that they can fool the public into thinking that they are on the side of righteousness.

Our politicians are really sick. Opposition politicians, especially. We just had a serious threat to the existence of the state, and what does the opposition do? THEY SIDE WITH THE REBELS!! HAHA!

Somebody should remind these media whores that had those rebels won, they would be the first ones to have been exterminated. Bye bye na ang Senado at Congreso if Trillanes and a certain Mr.Bigote had their way.

Idiots.

It's a total waste of time and money. Pampagulo lang sila. Imbis na mag-focus ang government in securing the state, they have to waste precious time with these clowns in the Senate who obviously have an axe to grind with the administration. Wow! Impartial daw sila o?

As for Gringo...well...it's about time na mahuli na yan at makulong na for his crimes against the state. I'm sure di naman siya malulungkot. Andun naman si Trillanes at Gambala to keep him company. And lest we forget, maybe Penguin will join them soon. Wish ko lang.

[ 06, 2003: Message edited by: Empress-of-The-Sun ]

Yeah, Gringo, Enrile, Ramos, and Cory should have been incarcerated long time ago. Noon pang Pebrero 1986. Tapos isali na rin si Sin, GMA, half the Supreme Court Justices and all those in the current administration.

Yeah they should quit the investigation. Malacañang and the AFP can be trusted to bring out the truth after their investigation.

Somebody should tell these media whores that their job is to come out with the truth and not just parrot what the administration keeps feeding them. Talk about tamad.

These Magdalo troops should have just shut up like real soldiers and accepted the fact that their lives are meaningless compared to the millions that the generals earn by selling materiel to the enemies of the state. I mean hey, ours is not to question why, ours is but to do and die, right?

[ 07, 2003: Message edited by: Magdalo ]

My dear Magdalo,

The media IS the friend of the rebels, if you haven't noticed.

And next time the Magdalo boys decide to "air out their grievances", I hope they do it without waving high-powered rifles and planting C4 bombs in civilian areas.

No matter how legit their grievances are, THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR WHAT THEY DID IN OAKWOOD. They deserve to go to jail.

Idealist my ass.

Yeah, pointing a gun to unarmed civilians and trampling on a business establishment is definitely idealistic. Please. They didn't sound too different from Osama Bin Laden imploring terrorist attacks while supposedly advocating for "Palestinian freedom."

Open your eyes, Mr.Magdalo.


Don't be taken by the hype. In the end, it is only the rule of law which will protect you and this country.

And my dear Cory was a duly elected president. Remember the SNAP elections?

GMA's presidency has already been recognized as legitimate by the Supreme Court.

If YOU don't like their decision, then YOU go file an appeal or whatever to counter their decision. Better yet, why don't YOU file an impeachment case against the Supreme Court justices.

Living in a democratic system of government allows us to do these things.

But then again, you probably didn't know that the law allowed for such measures since being a Magdalo, you probably only know the LAW OF THE GUN.

Does anyone here still remember the brave Clarissa Ocampo?

She told the truth about the corrupt system, right?

I don't remember her holding a gun and planting C4 bombs around a mall while she spoke out against the president.

agree w/ u on that empress. in my opinion, those magdalo soldiers are right wing terrorists. they hostaged the filipino ppl by planting those c4 explosives capable of bringiing down a part of oakwood. they are using the legitimate grievances to smokescreen their hidden agenda and political supporters.

we know that the military is extremely under funded. although corruption happens a lot, u cannot avoid the fact that our defense dept has such a small budget when u compare it to the ratio other countries allot. it is not a simple case of corruption coz the phils. plain and simply cannot afford to have a big AFP coupled w/ multi-pronged anarchists like NPA, Abu sayaf, MILF, some MNLF, bandits, right wing soldiers, congressmen, senators... ang daming kalaban.

the evidence being built up by the NBI is consistent and tells an obvious tale. i think evidence is very strong against the plotters and it shows that it isnt a simple case of mutiny but a power grab for a future military junta. as an official said, "the writing is on the wall".

Magdalo,

As for your implication that we cannot trust the independent commission established by Malcanang ...

well, if I had to choose between a commission led by Justice Feliciano, Fr.Bernas and Carolina Hernandez and that of an "investigation" led by the Senate, I definitely choose the former.

Carolina Hernandez was also part of the Davide commission which investigated the roots of the 1989 coup. HAd their recommendations (which included reforms in the military to curb corruption) been implemented, restiveness in the ranks would have been reduced.

But as we all know, the recommendations of the Davide commission weren't followed. Instead, in 1995, WE pandered to the rebels and gave them a blanket AMNESTY.

And look where we are now.


Please, clowns like Biazon, Loi Estrda, Osmena, Oreta have no place in this "investigation." It's so obvious what their agenda is.

And the argument that allegations against Gringo are part of demolition job of his presidential campaign are moronic at best. Gringo was never even nowhere near the list of top contenders of presidentiables. Kulelat nga eh. If anything, Gringo should be thanking the administration for all the free publicity. It will definitely help him in the coming elections, like it did when he was reelected as senator after EDSA 3.

[ 07, 2003: Message edited by: Empress-of-The-Sun ]

hear hear!

Oh yeah the snap election.... The same snap election where Cory WAS NOTdeclared the winner. Cory became president by virtue of a failed coup cum "PEOPLE POWER REVOLT". And to legitimize her reign (which could not be legitimized any other way) a new constitution had to be drawn up. A referendum was held to see whether the new constitution would be acceptable to the people. But wait, there's more.... It was a Catch 22. If the people voted for the ratification of the new constitution then that was construed as a vote for the legitimacy of Cory Aquino's government. On the other hand, had the constitution not been ratified then the country would have been run by a revolutionary government without a constitution which would have opened the doors wide to another possibility of abuses by the government. So heads you lose, tails I win. By the way, how old were you in 1986?

As for GMA being "recognized" by the Supreme Court, remember that the Justices of the Supreme Court, while having the last say as to the constitutionality of any court proceeding, are neither infallible nor incorruptible.

To trust the commission made by the accused is like leaving your sheep in the care of a dog trained by the wolf.

In case you forgot, Clarissa Ocampo was not being hunted down by the government at anytime. In fact, wasn't she the whistle-blower who ended up being presented to the media as a suspect? And up to now the government has not issued a public apology. What kind of a comparison do you wish to derive from her and Magdalo?

As for the Magdalo group, LTSG Trillanes wrote about the goings-on in the Navy while in UP and later on went to GMA to air his grievances. What does he get? He gets to be declared a coup plotter and ordered arrested.

If the Magdalos have no justification for what they did in Oakwood then neither has GMA the justification to be the President of the country.

Its funny that you would accuse the media as the "friend" of the rebels. But all the incriminating info you have is from the same press that you accuse of being friendly to the rebels.

If anybody should open their eyes it should be you, oh sleeping one. Maybe if you really took a deeper look at the substance of things rather than the form then you would finally be able to see that you as well as the other Filipinos are really in a muck that grows thicker as the day goes by.

[ 08, 2003: Message edited by: Magdalo ]

double post

[ 08, 2003: Message edited by: Magdalo ]

Huh? clarissa Ocampo is the brave vice president of PCI-Equitable bank who witnessed Erap signing as Jose Velarde.

GMA met with Trillanes on July 13 and listened to him for one and a half hours. She then directed Navy Vice Admiral de Leon to look into the supposed corruption and asked AFP Chief Gen. Abaya to institutionalize a mechanism that would address the legitimate grievances of the young AFP officers. During the Commencement Exercises of the Maritime
Academy of Asia and the Pacific in Mariveles, Bataan last July 19, she assured the junior officers of the AFP that her administration would support their legitimate demands but at the same time called on them to course these demands through the AFP chain of command.

During the following days, coup rumors started doing its round. On July 23, she met with some 35 young officers of the AFP. The young officers pledged their continued loyalty to the chain of command even if they have aired their grievances. In the following days, GMA came out with statements calling on the public to remain calm amid coup rumors, saying the grievances of the young officers were being heard and acted on and that she won't hesitate to engage in constructive dialogue with any levels of command. All these clearly show that GMA gave due attention and addressed the grievances of the junior officers.

Trillanes was arrested because was one of those who headed the failed coup attempt.

Oops, my bad. But then again if not for the fact that she was asked to shed light as a witness she would have just kept quiet about it all, right?

Yeah sure. And the next thing you know she turns around, declares that there IS a coup plot and orders the arrest of officers such as Trillanes.

If Trillanes really wanted to hold a coup why would he have bothered to talk to GMA? 'Di ba sana meme na muna sya and just take GMA by surprise?

But no, he presented himself to the C-in-C and aired their complaints. To which, while on the outside she said she cared, she in fact again took the side of those in the military to whom she owes her presidency. And if anybody thinks that she owes it to anybody other than the military they are either too naive or just plain stupid.

[ 11, 2003: Message edited by: Magdalo ]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Magdalo:


"As for GMA being "recognized" by the Supreme Court, remember that the Justices of the Supreme Court, while having the last say as to the constitutionality of any court proceeding, are neither infallible nor incorruptible."
___________________________________________


Humans, including justices may err but any miscarriage of justice can be avoided by exercising the due standard of care in rendering decisions.

There has been no showing of otherwise as the decision is now well-settled jurisprudence, apart from the recognition given by foreign states to Pres GMA as constitutional successor.

[ 11, 2003: Message edited by: blukatips ]

It is only "well-settled" because there is nobody else to override the Supreme Court regardless of whether what they decided is right or wrong.

As for the recognition of foreign states, had these foreign states decided not to recognize GMA as the nation's leader they could have been accused of interfering with the internal affairs of the Philippines. Something I doubt anyone of them would like to bother themselves with. Remember, diplomacy is the art of handling affairs without arousing hostility.

[ 12, 2003: Message edited by: Magdalo ]

There are some "weeds" but surely there are also honest, efficient and effective public officers and servants.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Magdalo:
she in fact again took the side of those in the military to whom she owes her presidency. And if anybody thinks that she owes it to anybody other than the military they are either too naive or just plain stupid.
---

Misleading. Pres GMA's assumption to office is by virtue of being the rightful successor to erap who voluntarily left his post at malacanang.

[quote]Originally posted by blukatips:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Magdalo:
she in fact again took the side of those in the military to whom she owes her presidency. And if anybody thinks that she owes it to anybody other than the military they are either too naive or just plain stupid.
---

Misleading. Pres GMA's assumption to office is by virtue of being the rightful successor to erap who voluntarily left his post at malacanang.[/quote]


leaving malacanang is not a sign of resignation. it is not written in our constitution. the malacanang PALACE is not the PRESINDENCY.

if the soldiers had financial backers...then they wouldn't be any different from JOSE CONCEPCION during EDSA 1 and MANNY PANGILINAN and the AYALAS during EDSA 2.

on TV, JoeCon was telling the media that there was probably someone rich behind the oakwood incident. then, an ex-soldier tells him, "sir, e diba kayo rin, tinulungan niyo kami nung 1986/1989 (i forgot)..." tpos natameme si JoeCon.

---------------------------------
there were a lot of nice points mentioned during at the fact finding committee...or should i say fault-finding committee?

sabi nga ng isang officer: what kind of a country is the phils...where our people are idolizing people like chavit singson? ----true

i would just like to comment on ongkiko...he wasn't supposed to act like a prosecutor for the government. its a fact finding committee and you shouldn't interrogate as if you're in a court room. in fact, he was even asking leading questions. very obvious.

he was so PRO-GLORIA that he was very emotional. magkano kaya binayad sa kanya? and he kept on interrupting... LET THE WITNESS SPEAK..for crying out loud!

another point is that they ordered the soldiers to speak in ENGLISH not in TAGALOG. kasi daw di maiintihan ng stenographer. WHAT KIND OF BULL IS THAT? you mean to tell me that if the common tao cannot testify in court just because he can't speak in english? It's obvious that the committee did not want the MASA to understand what the soldiers were saying.


am+dg

And you bought this statement hook, line and sinker? I'm sorry but how naïve can you get?

Erap did not voluntary leave his post. He was pushed out of it. And by none other than the military as usual.

[ 15, 2003: Message edited by: Magdalo ]

on the thread topic

both Senatorial and House committees should be immediately scrapped. it's not their job to investigate what happened in Oakwood. it's the job of the police - and i mean police, not DILG, and especially not its secretary, sori bossing - to investigate how all this happened under their noses, and the job of the AFP to investigate the accusations of Trillanes and company.

on the topic of Cory's presidency

Comelec and NAMFREL declared different winners in the snap elections. i can't remember who declared who.

on the topic of GMA's presidency



true. Supreme Court Justices are people, and people can be mistaken or, in a worse case, corrupted.

the question is, were they ACTUALLY mistaken and corrupted when they declared the seat of the President vacated, and swore GMA into office as then-Vice President?

that's a pretty big allegation. and one that you can't prove without reading each Justice's mind.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Magdalo:
Erap did not voluntary leave his post. He was pushed out of it. And by none other than the military as usual.
--

magdalo missed the point that no duress or uncontrollable fear was applied neither by anti-erap nor the military.

It is plain indication of erap's poor judgment and negligent application of the law, if ever because between the defining moment of asserting his authority amid charges and the relative pressure for him to step down, erap was overcomed by internal crises.

D·I·E·H·A·R·D·III
HERMAN TIU LAUREL
Heroes



Friday, 08 08, 2003

wiss authorities want Marcos victims compensated” the Inquirer headlines, and the Philippine Star says “Swiss authorities okay release of $683-million FM funds to RP,” which make them look pretty well-coordinated. ABS-CBN also started replaying old Ninoy Aquino assassination videos, seemingly timed to distract from the Trillanes story and raise the military bogeyman. Gloria has said Trillanes and the other soldiers are “handsome,” now dumb dames Korina and Kris are saying they are not handsome at all. The establishment media are going to great lengths to divert the real significance of the Trillanes action.

Let me first clarify that the group of Trillanes never called themselves Magdalo. That is a tag media concocted for lack of a better understanding of the group. Trillanes and Co.'s lawyer, Ruel Pulido, made this very clear when he appeared at the Mama Rosa media forum last Tuesday explaining the Trillanes group never wanted to have a name because they do not believe in labels and tags. To them, their message was for the Armed Forces to reform to eliminate military corruption, which was the only important matter.

A name that might them is Bagong Katipunan, and which we have heard some people use even before they took action, as the symbol they used — the sun and the old Filipino alphabet “K” within — meant. As their lawyer nodded when I mentioned the name, this seems to be the more appropriate name so we will call them the Bagong Katipunan (BK) henceforth. This correction is important as the name Magdalo has raised an image that is absolutely alien to the BK's spirit; that is, of being ilustrado and estranged from the masa's welfare.

If there is one thing the BK has shown, it is its absolute loyalty to the welfare of its men, a matter that lawyer Pulido also brought to the public's attention. Trillanes and the core of officers now in detention requested the help of their supporters among the public to give assistance to their men whose families may be suffering from deprivation of pay and benefits. For this reason, some people have been organizing efforts to raise funds to help the soldiers' families. This situation arose due to Arroyo's betrayal of the “return to barracks” agreement.

The Bagong Katipuneros gave their all to expose the anomalies in the Armed Forces and the defense establishment that have been killing their fellow soldiers and sowing religious conflict in Mindanao. They expended special efforts using formal and informal channels to bring the problems to the acting Chief Executive of the land. They were betrayed again and again, first by the threat of arrest right after the dialogues and then by detention and a threat of the gallows after the “return to barracks” and “return to units” agreements. All this they endure to fulfill their duty to the nation.

These young officers are heroes in the classic sense, willing to sacrifice all for the highest welfare of the nation. The media labelled them “mutineers,” which is farthest from the truth for they serve with absolute faithfulness and loyalty. It is Reyes, Corpus and Ebdane who are accused of having sown bombs, lies and mayhem in our midst, who stand accused as the traitors who should be facing the firing squad. Although the situation is unjust to the young officers, these men said they are asking for nothing but due process from the military court. Meanwhile, Reyes is building his multimillion-peso mansion.

The other hero of this Bagong Katipunan episode is, as Alejandro “Ding” Lichauco described in his recent article, the only presidential candidate that has come up with a program of governance — Sen. Gregorio Honasan. Indeed, Sen. Honasan has served as an inspiration for the young Katipuneros because only he has presented a road map to reform this society. Although it may not be the road map that will bring each Filipino to his own desired destination, it is an ideal beginning for a national leader's vision.

Honasan is being labeled a “fugitive” by the establishment media today, “in hiding” and “underground.” They say “flight is a sign of guilt,” but didn't Bonifacio and the Philippine revolutionaries of 1896 also go underground as did our freedom fighters during World War II? Honasan is not in flight, of course, just lying low while Secretary Joey Lina acts out his little drama. It is correct to lie low while the perverted state of rebellion is in effect; why should a leader who can oppose the oppressive regime allow himself to be shackled? That would be a loss to the nation.

As we debate these issues, the ruling oligarchy and Arroyo continue their oppressive plundering. We have just received the official settlement on Meralco's contract violations against Napocor that will cost per consumer more as it reduces “utilization of Napocor's power plants” which have lower power costs, continue the P0.40 reduced Napocor PPA which it uses to pay loans and allow Meralco to pass on its P27.515-billion penalties to the Napocor then to consumers. The Bagong Katipunan and Honasan should add these to their issues, then they'll be complete heroes of the people.

(Tune in to 1350 AM, Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. La Liga, and Tinig ng Bayan with Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta).

D·I·E·H·A·R·D·III
HERMAN TIU LAUREL
The next Oakwood



Wednesday, 08 13, 2003

Don't think that the state of rebellion is over. Gloria may have lifted her sham declaration but the real state of rebellion is still raging, as this rebellion is in the hearts and minds of the people and one particular transgression grows more and more revolting by the week and month with Manila Electric Co.'s (Meralco) oppression of tens of millions of Filipino electricity consumers. After the outrageous purchased power adjustment (PPA) universal and other charges come now the P20-billion penalties Meralco is passing on to consumers and P2 per kwh added cost from its independent power producers' (IPPs) power plants.

Adding to the infuriation is the Meralco- instigated TV-media embargo on information and coverage of this great perfidy. There is an almost total news blackout on TV on this issue. Without exception, TV stations including those we thought would give even token reportage have shut out the outrageous Meralco-National Power Corp. (Napocor) settlement issue the past week. We shouldn't be surprised, we have heard that at least P40 million has circulated since Meralco board director Christian Monsod announced the settlement formula some two weeks ago.

The Meralco-Napocor settlement is about Meralco's contract commitment starting in the early 1990s to purchase 3,500MW daily from the government power agency. When the Lopezes had the brilliant idea to set up its own IPP unit, based on Cory Aquino's Executive Order 215 deregulating power generation, Meralco reneged on its commitment and bought from its own IPP at P4.21 per kwh, twice that of Napocor's P2.15 per kwh. That's one whammy, followed by another — the Napocor's PPA from the unutilized power Meralco was supposed to get but did not.

Napocor sued Meralco, but out of the “goodness” of Mrs. Arroyo's heart she orders Napocor to settle the matter out of court. Napocor is forced to accept the P20-billion settlement out of P27-billion Meralco penalties (the P7-billion Meralco deducted from transmission facilities Napocor to serve Meralco which was no longer needed since Meralco was not buying anymore, but this was still deducted). Meralco is happily freed from its commitment to buy power from Napocor and allows it to source from its own expensive IPP, while Napocor happily charges another PPA to recoup its loss.

Everybody happy except electricity consumers. Aside from being given a new PPA from Napocor and paying double the power price for Lopez IPPs electricity (from Quezon Power, First Gas Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo natural gas power plants). We will pay P20 billion for penalties of Meralco to Napocor. As the Freedom from Debt Coalition said in its statement on the issue, “Ironically, rather than penalize, the settlement agreement rewards the offender Meralco. The distribution utility stands to gain from the agreement while consumers are the clear losers.”

The Nasecor (National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reform), through its president Pete Ilagan, has written to the government representatives in the Meralco board to disapprove the agreement on the ground that it violates the implementing rules of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (without granting that it is legal), that “no distribution utility shall be allowed to source from bilateral power supply contracts more than 50 percent of its total demand from an associated firm engaged in generation” and to purchase “cheaper then can otherwise be generated by existing or programmed generation facilities...of Napocor.”

If Meralco's government representatives, the biggest single block of votes, approve the settlement agreement they will be liable for violating the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019)” in a transaction “manifestly and grossly disadvantageous” to the government and the public. They will also violate Article XI of the Constitution on accountability of public officers, as well as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713), Nasecor has thoroughly researched the possible charges against them.

Lt. S/G Antonio Trillanes IV and Co. took drastic action to unmask before the public the crimes being committed against Filipino soldiers by their highest officers. The situation is worse in the electricity sector where the Epira crimes are being committed with impunity, destroying our economy and countless Filipino livelihoods and lives. They describe this in Pilipino, “Wina-walanghiya tayo harap-harapan,” I say it's too mild and add, “Harap-harapang ginagago tayo.”

Why is Mrs. Arroyo allowing this daylight hold-up? Some find it difficult to comprehend the callousness on the electricity issues of those in Malacañang. The simple answer lies in the power of those in the electricity and energy sector, local and foreign, over the survival or fall of Mrs. Arroyo. She knows if they thumb her down then its off to the gallows for her. If we work the power connections backwards, from Meralco to the Lopez IPPs and further, one ends up face-to-face with the Shell-Texaco Malampaya natural gas project that fuels Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo.

The Shell-Texaco Malampaya natural gas has only one major consumer, the Lopez IPPs. Its gas is priced at an exorbitant P2 per kwh compared to an average of P1.50 for other fuels. We have no share in it. This is what foreign investments get from us! That's why the Ayalas staged Edsa II, to get its partner Shell the sweetheart deals needed. Which should be the next Oakwood: Malacañang, the ERC, the Meralco or Shell-Malampaya offices? Who'll do it this time? Preferably civilians and men-in-uniform together.

(Tune in to 1350AM Mondays to Saturdays 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Wednesday 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Premier broadcast of Ping Lacson organizations).

F·R·O·N·T·L·I·N·E
NINEZ CACHO-OLIVARES
Flunking the first test



Thursday, 08 14, 2003

The Feliciano Commission has flunked its first test at independence, when it prevented Navy Lt. S/G Antonio Trillanes IV from explaining how he obtained the document detailing the alleged terrorist activities of the government, and how he believed it to be a genuine one.

For one, it was clear that when it came to protecting the Arroyo presidency, her military generals and aides, the commission suddenly fell back on “technical grounds,” saying there was another commission that would be looking into this, that if names are to be mentioned, all these disclosures should be done behind closed doors.

But isn't the Feliciano Commission supposed to be a transparent fact-finding commission? Why then does it fear public disclosures when it comes to the Magdalo group's attempt to reveal how the junior officers believed this to be a genuine document?

Lawyer Mario Ongkiko was obviously making his questions to Trillanes would ensure that his attempts to disclose matters of importance would be barred, when all too suddenly, he objected to the document being discussed, when earlier, the same Ongkiko was freely introducing and discussing the unauthenticated document which the Arroyo security officials claimed was the masterplan of the alleged coup plotters to install a 15-man junta that would take over the government.

And there was the commission chairman, saying these matters should be taken up in closed-door sessions.

Why bring up technicalities, or confidentiality and closed-door sessions if the intent of the commission is for it to find out why this Oakwood mutiny occurred? Who is it that the commission wants to protect?

What is it that all these government appointed people want to suppress, when it is important for the public to know just what it was that led these junior officers to take extreme measures to make their complaints heard? Why are they being prevented from talking? Why are there objections being raised?

Nobody in government seems to get it. The public wants to hear both sides of the issues that led to the Oakwood siege, and it should not matter if the heavens fall.

But for the Feliciano Commission, the idea appears to be that of protecting once again the Arroyo administration, which too many of them helped install in power, and through a civilian-military coup d'etat.

Like all courts and their judges, the Feliciano Commission must not only be impartial, but must take all measures to appear impartial, for it to be percieved by the public as a credible commission. Yet in its first test, the Feliciano Commission failed, by bringing up problems of “technicality” and closed- door sessions.

And there was the Feliciano-appointed counsel, acting more like the prosecutor of the junior officers than anything else.

What is it that the Feliciano Commission counsel wanted to prove? That Trillanes and Maestrecampo were the guilty ones? To prove the case for the Arroyo administration? But shouldn't he have been more of a lawyer that wanted to draw out the facts for the commission?

There is no denying the fact that the Filipino people have been waiting for a long time to hear the side of the junior officers, if only for them to understand why this came about.

There was public pressure building up to have the junior officers testify in an open forum, be it the Feliciano Commission, the House or the Senate.

It was this growing pressure that made Malacañang, after realizing that preventing these junior officers from speaking out openly was damaging to its occupants, come up with that belated excuse that it was not averse to having these junior officers testify in open court.

Yet even as they do, there are still insidious moves on the part of the commission to prevent these officers from baring everything, including that which would place Gloria and her aides, as well as the military in a bad light.

Make no mistake about it. Those documents that detail the bombing operations implicate Gloria and her aides.

This is hardly the time to protect the guilty in government. This is the time for the problems to be rooted out, in order for the country and the nation, and yes, its Armed Forces, to have a better future.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BlueEagle_the_King:
[B]
leaving malacanang is not a sign of resignation. it is not written in our constitution. the malacanang PALACE is not the PRESINDENCY.

Sorry to disagree, but I think the Supreme Court has already made a decision about this. You are going over old ground.

i have no doubt that Trillanes and company do have solid evidence to back their allegations. granted, their methods of gaining attention may not have been the most proper (or the most legal), but on the other hand, for them to have the guts to take such drastic action implies only one of two things: either they're straight up crazy and stupid, or they have incredible conviction in their accusations.

KQII, while the two writers do present good points, i personally don't favor the writers - both are overtly anti-GMA to the point of absurdity. remember, just because it is written doesn't mean it's true. (especially if it's in an opinion column.)

sana lang they are also doing something to investigate the allegations regarding the sale of firearms and the alleged involvement of government officials in the davao bombings...

[quote]Originally posted by bluemax:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by BlueEagle_the_King:
[B]
leaving malacanang is not a sign of resignation. it is not written in our constitution. the malacanang PALACE is not the PRESINDENCY.

Sorry to disagree, but I think the Supreme Court has already made a decision about this. You are going over old ground.[/quote]

yup..it is old. but it should never be forgotten....

the Supreme Court acted on what authority? do they have mandate over the presidency? who are they to declare a president no longer a president?

why are the people who are supposed to be the DEFENDERS of the CONSTITUTION...turning out to be the OFFENDERS?

if we do not respect the main law of our land...then no one will.

we should look into this matter even if it happened 2 or 20 years ago... we can still make things right...

let us not forget JURISPRUDENCE... many years from now...a similar case may happen. and any lawyer may use this case as an example...in short, anybody can now by-pass the constitution.

if the supreme court was able to do so...then anybody now can.

what if the future chief justice suddenly sides with the opposition? then they hold another EDSA? does that mean they too can declare the prsident's resignation without the LETTER?

think about it.

am+dg

the laws are clear. when a president is incapacitated and unable to fulfill his duties, then the Vice President is to succeed him. all the Supreme Court did was to examine the situation - Erap had vacated Malacanang and militants were moving towards Mendiola - and interpret the law to respond to the situation.

in the same situation, when a seige against a Malacanang with no president is imminent, what would YOU have ruled?

I definitely agree. While it is legitimate to write up your own opinions in an opinion people, it is even more important for press people to evaluate their opinions well because many people would be reading the stuff they write and they may be causing prejudice to the people they write about.

[quote]Originally posted by bluemax:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by BlueEagle_the_King:
[B]
leaving malacanang is not a sign of resignation. it is not written in our constitution. the malacanang PALACE is not the PRESINDENCY.

Sorry to disagree, but I think the Supreme Court has already made a decision about this. You are going over old ground.[/quote]


**
Circumstantial evidence point to the then sitting erap intending NOT to return after vacating his office and known domicile, which is Malacanang with his prolonged absences.

The Manila Standard 10/18/03 reported:

* Facts gathered by the commission point to the political goal of taking power by the Magdalo group and the establishment of a 15-member council after the restoration of former President Estrada to the presidency for three days only.


* The commission findings showed: The civilian component, based on the mutineer's "Operation Andres," included the installation of a 15-member junta to rule the country to be headed by kuya, referring to opposition Senator Gregorio Honasan whose presidential campaign line, National Recovery Program (NRP), was embraced by the mutineers.


* The legitimate grievances aired by the mutineers led by bright young military officers had no moral or legal justification and that the mutiny, with several options and strategic plans, failed because it did not attain the required public support for it to succeed.

* Among the recommendations of the commission are:

Commanding officers must exercise due diligence by constantly warning their men against recruitment for destabilization plots against the government by adventures in the military;

The government and AFP need to address the legitimate grievances of the military against corrupt officers, officials, bureacrats and practices;

The Feliciano commission also reiterates the recommendations of the Davide Commission to have a civilian appointed as National Defense secretary.